From When Harry Met Sally to Crazy Rich Asians, the world of romantic comedy films serve as escapism to women and queer audiences. Once condemned by critics, the cheesiness and predictability of the genre are the qualities celebrated by its target audience. So it’s fortunate to report that Amazon Prime’s recent hit film Red, White, and Royal Blue provides comfort to the queer community with its formulaic yet harmless story about how love can be enough to conquer all the world’s challenges like homophobia and traditional views on relationships.
Red, White, and Royal Blue is not a game-changer regarding the romantic comedy formula. Presidential son Alex Claremont-Diaz (Taylor Zakhar Perez of The Kissing Booth franchise) of the US has to befriend Prince Philip (Nicholas Galitzine) of the United Kingdom, at least in front of the camera, after they bickered and accidentally destroyed the royal cake worth $75,000 in an event at the Buckingham Palace. The two clearly don’t like each other. Alex swears he’s taller than Prince Philip. The Prince insists otherwise. The American thinks he’s too snotty and uptight. The British royalty thinks he’s too crass and careless. From exchanging sharp and funny banters, the two found a soft spot for each other. Are they going to fall in love?
You might be living under the rock if you think they will not. It’s an unspoken law in the world of romantic comedy that enemies will eventually become lovers. But how is that going to happen? The screenplay written by Ted Malawer and director Matthew Lopez churned out some cheesy lines even the characters ask: Who says that? But the irresistible, charming chemistry between Perez and Galitzine gave the screenplay an excuse, from their cute texts and e-mails to laughs and cuddles after making love, as what Prince Philip calls it (Who says making love these days? Alex teases him). Their romance shows how the cliche of enemies-to-lovers, facing a problem that challenges their love, and ending up together against all odds is still, after all, effective at making the hopeless romantics wish they can also meet their Alex or Prince Philip.
Red, White, and Royal Blue, an adaptation of the 2019 book of the same name written by non-binary author Casey McQuiston, operates in a progressive Democrat dream world where women lead the countries, problematic powerful individuals are men (like the homophobic king played by Stephen Fry, probably the gayest British actor alive), people of color can be seen everywhere, and queer people’s problem is not on health (Alex and Prince Philip use condom and lube. Great!) or economy (they’re probably the most economically privileged teen couple in the history of rom-coms); it is mostly about the emotionally complicated process of coming out and defying traditional norms about gender and relationships.
Aside from its blossoming romance, the film has an underdeveloped, rushed subplot involving the re-election campaign of Alex’s mother, US President Ellen Claremont (Uma Thurman with her campy Southern Texan accent). When the film is not focused on the budding clandestine romance between the presidential son and the British prince, it features Alex’s determination to flip the red state of Texas to secure her mom’s victory.
This is Red, White, and Royal Blue’s social commentary, a well-intentioned push for the LGBT community to ensure their movement is going forward by showing the dangers of a conservative Republican leadership. But what exactly do these Republicans say about LGBT rights? How is President Claremont the savior for the community? How will a Democrat-led country secure the relationship of Alex and Prince Philip and other queer couples? If you’re not an American or literate about American politics, Red, White, and Blue will not address these questions for you. At the same time, is the film’s target audience going to watch this film for its politics?
Never mind the elections. The cutesy romance between Alex and Prince Philip does the wonders and magic of the romantic comedy genre. What’s more important, however, is that queer men don’t have to seek refuge, comfort, and resonance in hetero-centric love stories. There’s queer escapism where they can fantasize themselves as Alex or Prince Philip kissing in a White House room or making love in Paris.
Red, White, and Royal Blue is streaming on Amazon Prime.
